Preview: 2015 Audi A8 and S8

2015 Audi A8. Click image to enlarge

There is a wide range of performance options too. The 4.0L TFSI engine propels the A8 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds (0.3s slower than the 520-hp S8) despite producing ‘only’ 425 hp. That figure is up by 15 from the previous figure.

The base-spec 3.0L V6 TFSI engine gets an increase of 20 hp to 310.

The A8 boasts two TDI options, the A8 3.0 TDI Clean Diesel packing 258 hp and a tidy fuel economy figure of just 5.9 L/100 km. That engine is dwarfed by the 4.2L TDI Clean Diesel, which thrusts forward on the crest of 627 lb-ft of torque and an increased 384 hp, all driven through the standard sport differential. That trick diff is standard on the S8 and TDI versions of the A8, but is an option on the rest of the range.

There is also a 6.3 L/100 km hybrid option on its way. Coupled with a 2.0L petrol engine the hybrid A8 is good for 245 hp and 354 lb-ft.

. Click image to enlarge

Fuel-saving Cylinder on Demand technology is available in the W12, S8 and 4.0L TFSI models, with the W12 also getting Active Noise Cancellation for the first time in 2015. ANC sends sound waves through the speakers to counteract those made by the engine in reduced-cylinder mode. The effect is a quieter cockpit and cabin. Aficionados will know that the S8 runs a similar system in conjunction with Active Engine Mounts – Audi effectively mounts the S8 engine on oversized speaker coils which feed a resonance back through the engine to cancel out vibration and sound. No word yet on whether that system will expand through the range.

Definitely not expanding through the range is a limited-edition cosmetic package offered with the W12.

“The A8 Audi exclusive concept is intended for customers looking for something very special,” says Audi.

“The limited-edition package (50 cars) is available for the A8 L W12 Quattro. Leather from Italian furniture manufacturer Poltrona Frau in the color Agatha Cognac dominates the interior. The inlays are made of fine grain olive ash natural silver brown. Its gray-brown shade harmonizes with the granite gray piping on the seats. Audi recommends the color Tierra Del Fuego for the exterior finish.”

That option is excessive really as the interior of the A8 is already stunning. I was enamoured with the grey ash inlays in the demonstration car at the show, and the leather is so aromatic I could hear the Old Spice guy in my head: “I’m on a horse”.

I was also overwhelmed by the controls available to the rear-seat passengers. The person being chauffeur-driven in an A8 is very much in command, with almost everything but the steering-wheel and pedals under their control.

Fold down the console and you’ll find a household power-outlet (European 220V on this car), power controls for the memory seats (all four outboard seats are memory seats in the A8), audio and media controls for the sound system and headrest-mounted DVD screens, and climate controls. There is even a button to send cool air into the compartment formed by the center armrest-cum-mission-control centre – I imagine that is so one can keep one’s champagne glasses chilled.

Should you still have the champagne in hand when it comes time to retrieve one’s belongings from the boot, no problem. The A8 has a power opening and closing boot lid, probably because boot lids are so enormous and heavy.

2015 Audi A8. Click image to enlarge

Visually the A8 gets a subtle facelift, with the Matrix lighting system providing a more simplistic headlight, which sets off the larger grille opening. The whole effect is more assertive and leads to a car with greater gravitas. Except to say that it feels like it has more substance, I was hard-pressed to pick the physical differences, so I’ll let Audi summarize the design changes:

“Dynamic, yet harmoniously elegant – the big sedan’s design has become even more expressive. The engine hood, the single-frame grille and the front bumper are even more sculptured and precise.”

“The LED lights at the rear have also become flatter and are joined together by a continuous chrome strip. Chrome strips in the lower section of the body, fine inserts in the door handles and high-gloss black window frames round out the distinctive features.”